TCA: Throwing The Serial Killer Premise Off ‘The Bridge’ In Season 2

“I didn’t want to do the serial-killer-of-the-year story. I can’t compete with the genre that’s out there,” The Bridgeexecutive producer Elwood Reid said today at TCA about his primary objective for Season 2 of the FX thriller.

“If I’m going to tell a story about the U.S.-Mexican border, one which these characters warranted, I couldn’t tell that story while they were tracking a serial killer,” said the EP. Departing Bridge EP Meredith Stiehm, who developed the series with Reid before returning to Homeland, also shared the same second-season vision.

“Meredith was right there with me in wanting to break the old mode of the show,” said Reid, “We looked at each other and said, ‘Let’s get these figures up on the bridge and finish this part of the story.'”

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The Bridge is absolutely devoid of any truth in its writing or subject matter. Feels like a...

Giving props to Stiehm, Reid said: “She is great with character work. The DNA this season was started last season when we put the train on this track. The most exciting thing is resetting the show in the middle of your freshman season. It was the scariest shit to try and do.”

By tossing out genre conventions, Reid was able to develop such complexities this season such as Sonya Cross’ (Diane Kruger) fascination with Jack Dobbs (Nathan Phillips), who killed her sister. Sonya’s sympathy toward Jack stems from the fact that he’s the only connection she has to her late sister.

“Not to mention, he’s hot,” Reid said about Phillips. “I don’t want to write a show where the characters lead examined lives. When it comes to emotions, Sonya doesn’t quite know how to cross that barrier (like other people).”

“The Jack Dobbs story helps us see Sonya’s vulnerability,” said Kruger, whose character has Asperger syndrome.

While Sonya has that trait, it’s a characteristic neither the actress nor Reid wanted to play front and center as a limitation, a la Carrie Mathison’s bipolarity on Homeland.

Said Reid, “In any social setting, you don’t turn to your friend and say, ‘Hey, look at that person; they have Aspergers.’ You accept people who are different and accept them into a social setting.”

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That gives me hope. Last season was God awful. There’s enough drama at the border without having to CBS it. I’m coming back.

Working Writer • on Jul 21, 2014 3:26 pm

This show had such promise (U.S./Mexican task force) but flushed it away when they incorporated the two of the most overused tropes in tv: serial killers & Aspergers.

Lou • on Jul 21, 2014 3:26 pm

The Swedish/Danish version was very good. Very engaging.

gage • on Jul 21, 2014 3:26 pm

Subvert the trope by being extra slow and boring

Sorry to See This • on Jul 21, 2014 3:26 pm

The Bridge is absolutely devoid of any truth in its writing or subject matter. Feels like a super cheap ripoff of Breaking Bad. It’s painful to watch Franka Potente, who is doing her best to bring something to a poorly thought out character. There are so many interesting stories going on South of the Border, but none of them are showing up in this show.